scream blue murder
Shriek in outrage
Scream blue murder means to shout or protest loudly and furiously, typically in response to something perceived as outrageous or unjust: The customers screamed blue murder when the airline canceled their flight.
The phrase suggests excessive or melodramatic outcry—the reaction often exceeds what the situation warrants.
Primarily British; the American equivalent is scream bloody murder.
Loud persistent noise
- outcryLoud public protest
- uproarNoisy public disturbance
- commotionNoisy, confused disturbance
- fussAgitated, unnecessary concern
hullabaloo · ruckus · brouhaha · kerfuffle · stink · scene · tantrum · fit
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- fearEmotional response to threat
- frightSudden intense fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
dread · distress · hysteria · shriek · wail · yell · holler · bellow
Respond disproportionately to something
- dramatizeDepict with heightened emotion
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- histrionicsExaggerated emotional behavior
- theatricsExaggerated dramatic behavior
blow out of proportion · catastrophize · overdramatize · make a mountain out of a molehill · overplay · embellish · amplify · inflate
Extremely, painfully loud
- deafeningOverwhelmingly loud
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- shrillHigh-pitched and harsh
- thunderousExtremely loud, resounding
booming · blaring · raucous · vociferous · clamorous · resounding · stentorian · cacophonous
clamor
Loud persistent noise
fuss · hullabaloo · ruckus · brouhaha · kerfuffle · stink · scene · tantrum · fit · tirade
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
horror · dread · distress · hysteria · shriek · wail · yell · holler · bellow · howl
overreact
Respond disproportionately to something
- dramatizeDepict with heightened emotion
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- histrionicsExaggerated emotional behavior
theatrics · blow out of proportion · catastrophize · overdramatize · make a mountain out of a molehill · overplay · embellish · amplify · inflate · hyperbole
earsplitting
Extremely, painfully loud
thunderous · booming · blaring · raucous · vociferous · clamorous · resounding · stentorian · cacophonous · ear-piercing
scream blue murderwhisper
Speech without full voice
murmur · speak softly · mutter · mumble · breathe
scream blue murdersuffer in silence
Endure pain without complaint
keep quiet · stay cool · bite one's tongue · say nothing · hold one's peace
blue, murder, scream, screaming, screamed, screams, screamer, screamers, screamfest